4
Infantile heroes However, the heroes do not occupy the absent fathers place. Live at home in state of perpetual adolescence, cultural discussions confined to childhood cartoons. Attempt to steal a car, none can drive. Scene where Saïd talks about sex with a woman – in a playground, under giant hippopotamus statue. Scene in art gallery shows sexual and social ineptitude.

6
Impotent Vinz cant fire the gun – despite his Robert De Niro Taxi Driver impersonation. They fail to steal the car. Saïd at the end watches helplessly.

7
The women Barely glimpsed At home, cooking, sewing, doing the homework On the rare occasions they appear in public, they are targets for crude aggression and unprovoked macho insults. Saïds sister, the women in the art gallery. Typical of banlieu and beur films They are denied a role, none qualifies as a character. Their relation to the males is purely biological and they do not participate in social issues.